GOALS from Lee Rogers and Martin Westcott sealed a vital win for the Crows as they returned with three precious Spartan South Midlands League points. The victory ended a run of four straight losses for Royston, and gives them a comfortable seven-point cus

GOALS from Lee Rogers and Martin Westcott sealed a vital win for the Crows as they returned with three precious Spartan South Midlands League points.

The victory ended a run of four straight losses for Royston, and gives them a comfortable seven-point cushion over second-from-bottom Haringey Borough.

It also effectively sends Harpenden down to Division One.

On a rock hard pitch, Mark Saggers' team played down the slope in the first half and started strongly against the basement side.

It took only nine minutes for the visitors to grab the lead when Martin Westcott chased a seemingly lost cause before crossing for the diminutive Rogers to nip in and score.

The Crows continued to dominate and doubled their lead just before the half-hour mark when Westcott deflected Jason Nash's shot through a crowded box, leaving the keeper unsighted.

With the slope against them after the break, the Crows saw less of the ball during the second half.

They appeared to be coasting towards victory until Harpenden pulled a goal back in the 72nd minute when Royston failed to deal with a ball over the top, leaving a forward free to fire past Barry White.

The visitors were forced to defend in numbers during the final minutes but held on to secure a vital win as they look to avoid the drop.

Royston: B White, P Lamont, C Snowden, C Geldart, C Silent, M Saunders, L Rogers, T Galvin (D Jeffries), J Nash, M Westcott, R Cannon. Unused sub: J McMurrough.